Secret Life Of Harpers Bizarre CD

Digitally remastered by Bob Irwin (Sundazed Studios, Coxsackie, New York).

Show tunes ("Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat"), novelty tunes ("Me, Japanese Boy"), songs from cutting-edge tunesmiths (Randy Newman's "Vine Street"), and complex arrangements abound on this 1968 set from the California harmony group that bridged the gap between easy listening and West Coast cool. Including a magical rendition of Yip Harburg's "Look to the Rainbow," a version of Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans" complete with sound effects, and an uptempo version of the Ivy League's "Funny How Love Can Be," SECRET LIFE weaves a richly imagined sound tapestry, subverting easy listening conventions with a fine Sixties disregard for musical propriety.

Harpers Bizarre's third album continued their mildly eccentric soft rock direction, remaining as mildly eccentric ever, but growing ever softer. In truth, this skirts adult contemporary Muzak almost as it does anything that could be considered rock music, and is rather a dark day in the annals of sunshine pop. The covers are a motley assortment of largely pre-rock standards given ornate arrangements and the group's trademark high, measured harmonies. What call there was for remakes of "Battle of New Orleans" (a real low point), Bacharach-David's "Me, Japanese Boy," "Sentimental Journey," and the Gershwins' "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" by a pop band in 1968 is questionable. Anachronism wouldn't matter so much if the results weren't so damn prissy. Ted Templeman and Dick Scoppettone's few originals are a little less objectionable, but no more memorable. The melancholy "Bye, Bye, Bye" is about the best, segueing strangely into Randy Newman's "Vine Street." Several half-minute interludes connect the tracks to give the album a suite-like feel and create the impression that the work is more important than it is. The Beau Brummels fans might want to note the inclusion of a so-so good-time Ron Elliott composition, "I Love You, Mama," which Elliott also arranged (as he did two other tracks). The 2001 CD on Sundazed adds two bonus tracks, the 1968 non-LP single "Small Talk" (written by Bonner-Gordon of "Happy Together" fame) and a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now." ~ Richie Unterberger

Recorded in Hollywood, California in 1968. Originally released on Warners (1739).

Re-Issue Plus Bonus Tracks

Personnel: Ted Templeman (vocals, guitar, drums); Dick Scoppettone (vocals, guitar); John Petersen (vocals, drums, percussion); Dick Yount (vocals).

Recording information: 05/14/1968-05/31/1968.

Arrangers: Eddie Karam; Kirby Johnson; Nick DeCaro; Perry Botkin; Ron Elliott.

Harpers Bizarre: Dickie Scoppetone (vocals, guitar, bass); Ted Templeman (vocals, guitar, drums); Dick Yount (bass, background vocals); John Petersen (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Mojo (Publisher) (3/02, p.120) - "...Whether drawing on folk, country, soul, Roaring Twenties or baroque influences, they liked to put the 'shh!' into kitsch....Hostorically they are fascinating....Their lush vocals and elaborate orchestrations are strangely affecting....highly enjoyable..."